The Washington critic., 1887-11-08

anti lbtfe Nas no END 10 the Jokes !
about her,
"By goshl' says old Mr.. Potter 10
one o. the conductors one day, I'm |
thinking you'll hev TO flx up II car for |
her spesbal 'commodaiion, II 1t goes on
this way much longer"
"Oh," answers he, a smiling, "its a
novelty to her at present, and we don't
obiec'. Arier awhile, when her
cuiiosity's grntiied. she'll be content to
settle down at home ag In, and talk over
her travels"
Well, she did stay quiet for week
or two, and then took az In to riding on
the rail. First she went to Cloverdale
TO buy a tin klttle for 10 cents. which
che said was . saving Of 8 cents from
gitiin' It at Cross Keys.
Then she left her gall al home and
tuck Lucindy Parks along oil the way
TO the city to sell her eggs and buy n
calker gownd; and so 1t went on oil the
summer.
"Oh, never mind" says the con.
ductor, smiling hard kind of smile.
Shell get tired of travelin' arser
But she didn't seem to get tired. On
the contrary, she took to making regu
lar trips, taking along first one person
and then another, until the conductors
got to looking as grum as bears; and
even the firemen and iniineers scowled
or laffed every time she put In an up.
pearance.
One enjineer used to let off o fearful
screech O. the b'iler whenever he seed
her coming; but, arter the first scare,
she got used to 1t and tuck no notice.
And once, when she was late, aud
the conductor started the train just as
she and Lucindy Parks was about
climbing aboard, she threatened to sue
the company II II happened agln.
They knew she'd keep her word, so
they was all obliged to be on their good
behavior to her.
So che kept 1t up all the first year or
two. Her way was to get aboard with
her female companion, whoever 1t
might be for the time, and jest fix her
sell comfortable near the stove or at n
window, 'cording as twas summer or
winter, and thar set and knit the whole
journey through.
She'd carry one woman up, maybe,
and bring another down; and at last 1t
came out that she was making regu.
lar business Of 1t with folks that wanted
to visit the town or country, they pay
Ing her half ora quarter the regular
fare on what was passed off on the
railroad folks for free trip.
The company interfered then and
said something about stopping II by
law; but she lowed they hadn't stiper.
lated bout any business matters O.
hern, and she was keeping to the letter
Of the agreement.
Then they tried to buy her of, but
she said she was satisfied as things was
and wanted no change. Still, It was
clear that she was not only making
money for herself, but keeping the
company out of 1t.
There was one injineer named Wells
on one of the trains, and, bimeby, when
this had been going on matter OF four
or five years, Betsey Ann Simcoe
noticed that he always fetched his cap
and looked at her In q soft, spooney
sort O. way whenever he seen her.
One day, when she was standing on
the bank, he flung bokey of pinks and
bachelder. buttons to her feet, and
another time pitched her pound O.
candy.
Then he handed her a newspaper
with some verses In 1t marked with
Notwithstanding about his heart
being captivated by lady "over the
way" that he'd never spoke to; and at
last came letter, saying as how he'd
been interested In her ever since he'd
seen her SO often on the cars, and he
was sure she would make him the
good, clever, sensible wife he'd always
wanted, II she could only bring herself
10 fancy him as he did her.
Well, she answered the letter, and a
meeting was fixed; but meantime one
O. the railroad chaps stepped in and
told her that Wells was Citing so dlssi.
pated that the company talked Of dis
charging him. but that she might be
able to save him by stiperlating that
she'd marry him only on condition
that he'd give up going to bar.rooms.
He considered of II and said he
would If she'd promise likewise to give
up her railroad travelling and stay al
home and make 1t comfortable and
agreeable for him and her.
So they both put 1t down in black
and white, and got witnesses to 1t, and
took oath to keep their words, and ther
they was married.
OF course Betsey Ann Wells stayed
at home now, and set about doing al
she could TO make 1t pleasant for hei
husband. She had plenty of time tc
do 1t In, for he didn't make his appear
ance there once month, skeersely; and
al last she found out that 1t was all O
put up job of the company's who't
bribed Wells with 5000 to marry hei
and get her off the road for good.
He was reckless sort of q chap, bu
not bad, and had always been as sobe
and free from bar rooms as n Judge.
Betaey Ann was awful cut up whel
she found 1t all out, for she'd set he
J heart on him, as old maids are apt t,
set their hearts on the first man tha
purtends to keer for 'em.
She didn't say nothing, even I,
Luclndy Parks, but went right aloal
doing the best she could to make |
pleasant for her husband whenever Ii
came to see her.
And at last, when he met with o,
accident from collision on the road
: and had to be laid up for weeks befor
he got well again, she had him HON
, from the hospital and nursed him a
tender and keerful as a mother doe
her ailing baby.
And would YOU believe 1t, that II
time she brought the man round to b
ashamed of the trick he'd played her
and to be jest as steady and easy. going
husband as any In Cross Keys?
Betsey Ann Wells never went on tn
rails again, except once or twice wit
her husband, paying her own fare.
And once she told the conducto
: that, spite of everything the complu
had done, she'd got the best of th
bargain-a good husband and none
enough to make him and her comfor,
| nhlr for Ii 70 Il GusIn A rcbur Wnira